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A Sheffield taxi firm has become the latest business to donate to the laptop campaign which is helping to prevent education disruption amongst disadvantaged young people across the city.

City Taxis has donated a total of 31 laptops to the Laptops for Kids campaign - launched by The Star, WANdisco and Learn Sheffield - which will be distributed to young people who currently have no access to a computer.

As well as preventing disadvantaged young people from falling behind with their school work, the campaign also hopes to close the ‘digital divide’.

Managing director of City Taxis, Arnie Singh, said: “Children are having to isolate so creating access to digital teaching is paramount. Anyone can help out.”

Arnie and a colleague pictured with City Taxis' laptop donation outside Cutlers' Hall, one of the drop off points.

He is encouraging more businesses to support the project, asking those with spare kit to ‘please donate’.

Donors can securely erase devices themselves or the campaign can arrange for the certified secure erasure of devices, which is carried out by the WANdisco Data Academy.

Mr Singh added: “It’s nice to be able to be involved. We do a lot of work with Sheffield College and the WAN academy. What they do at the college is supporting the next generation.”

He wants to reassure businesses who may have concerns about the data erasure of devices.

Mr Singh said: “If you have any reservations about it, I’m assured that it's being done properly.”

City Taxis joins Westfield Health, DLA Piper, Benchmark Recruit, local charities and a number of private individuals, who have also donated to the campaign.

Founder and chief executive of WANdisco, David Richards, added: “Big thanks to City Taxis for supporting out Laptops for Kids campaign. It is wonderful to see successful companies in our city come together to help families in need.”

A taskforce of civic and business leaders are working together to help promote the campaign and develop its supply chain. Learn Sheffield is coordinating the distribution of devices to schools.

If you have laptops, desktops, tablets or chargers to donate, email [email protected] in the first instance - this is so WANdisco can track donations and correctly advise people of the next steps.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

Sheffield taxi firm makes donation to Laptops for Kids campaign

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.